Better Plastics for Healthier Oceans

In the global effort to rid the world of plastic pollution, governments are increasingly turning to regulation, from taxation to outright bans. But while anti-plastic policies might make sense in some cases, the best way to protect the environment is to improve the product itself.

LONDON – Plastics are among the most popular materials in use today. Given the material’s versatility, it is little wonder that some 320 million tons of it are used around the world each year. Indeed, the recent holidays left many with a mountain of plastic products and packaging. But plastics also pose a serious environmental threat.

If not disposed of properly, plastics can lie or float around for decades. In addition to being harmful to terrestrial and aquatic life, free-floating plastics in oceans can adsorb toxins and break up into micro-plastics, which then enter the food chain.

It is this seeming immortality that has led governments to tax certain environmentally damaging plastic products or ban them altogether. Many governments are also encouraging better waste management, and the reuse, redesign, and recycling of plastic products.

Thanks for this interesting and timely article - I am currently doing research into proposed solutions to the plastic pollution issue, for my own interest and for wider discussion amongst my environmental/ecological community here in Manchester.

Having done a bit of research on reading your article though, I am interested in your thoughts on concerns others raise about whether oxo-biodegradable plastics truly biodegrade under many normal marine and landfill conditions, and whether the process/metal used is environmentally-friendly?

Here are links to an article from the Guardian several years ago, apparently well-researched and quoting independent opinion, and another giving a balanced view on more recent debate on them...https://www.theguardian.com/environment/cif-green/2009/jun/18/greenwash-biodegradeable-plastic-bagshttp://www.recyclingwasteworld.co.uk/news/oxo-biodegradable-plastics-association-respond-to-ellen-macarthur-foundation-criticism/164969/

Has your product/process perhaps been improved to resolve these concerns? I want to believe so and I accept these criticisms may be out of date, while the Ellen MacArthur Foundation report may originate from competitors wishing to undermine your product. I find it strange that you have not addressed these concerns in the above article though; it rather suggests you do not wish to draw attention to them. I hope you now take the opportunity to do so - ideally with detailed, independent scientific research.

If my own opinion to-date is of interest, I feel that anything encouraging consumers to retain and reuse plastics (or any other consumable goods for that matter) is important in addressing our dwindling resource problem. However I agree that a truly safe and reliable biodegradable alternative would be an enormous step forward.

In fact if it was widely scientifically agreed to be that solution, I don't really understand why it would be unreasonable to ban or heavily tax cheaper but less biodegradable alternatives, to reflect their long-term environmental cost.

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